Synaxarium

On this day, we commemorate the pure, chaste, intelligent Virgin Mary, the Mother of God the Word, the merciful mother of mercy. May her intercession be with us. Amen.

On this day, the saint Zacharias, Bishop of Sakha, departed. He was the son of a scribe named John, who left his position and was chosen as a priest. He raised his son Zacharias to receive literary and religious sciences. When he grew up, the minister appointed him as a scribe in his bureau. Afterwards, he agreed with a friend named Ablatus, who was the governor of Sakha, to leave their jobs and go to the wilderness to become monks. One day, a monk from the Monastery of Saint John the Short came, and they invited him to go with them to his monastery. When the governor learned of this, he prevented them. After a few days, the two saw a vision as if someone was telling them, "Why have you not fulfilled the vow you made?" So they secretly left immediately and went to the wilderness, not knowing the way. It happened that a monk met them and took them to the Monastery of Saint John. When their friends learned of this, they took a letter from the governor to bring them back, but the Lord frustrated their plan. As for Zacharias and his friend, they wore the monastic habit and exerted themselves in many devotions. This was during the time of the saints Anba Abram and Anba George, who were their good guides. When the Bishop of Sakha departed, the people wrote to the father patriarch requesting Zacharias to be their bishop. He summoned him and ordained him against his will. At the time of the ordination, when the father patriarch was about to lay his hand on Zacharias' head, a light shone in the church and his face appeared like a bright star. When he came to his throne, the people rejoiced and went out to meet him with utmost reverence, and the church was illuminated by him. This father was eloquent and full of grace; he composed several articles, sermons, and homilies. He remained on his throne for thirty years and then departed in peace.

May his prayer be with us, and to our Lord be glory forever and ever. Amen.

On this day, Saint Onesimus, disciple of Saint Paul the Apostle, was martyred. This saint was a slave of a man from Rome named Philemon, who had believed through the preaching of Saint Paul in Rome. It happened that Philemon traveled from Rome on private business and took Onesimus among his servants. There, the devil tempted Onesimus, and he stole some of his master's money and fled to Rome. By divine will, Onesimus attended the teaching of Saint Paul the Apostle, kept it in his heart, believed through him, and his heart was filled with grace and the fear of God. He remembered what he had stolen from his master and others, but he had nothing left to return to his masters. He was saddened and informed the apostle Paul about it. Paul comforted him and wrote a letter to his master Philemon, informing him that Onesimus had become a disciple of Christ and a son to Paul through the gospel, and he advised him to be gentle with him and not to punish him but to consider what he lost as if it were to the apostle. When Onesimus delivered the letter to his master Philemon, he rejoiced in his faith and repentance and treated him according to the apostle's advice. Moreover, he gave him more money, but Onesimus refused, saying, "I am enriched in Christ." Then he bid him farewell and returned to Rome. He continued serving Saint Paul until his martyrdom and deserved to be ordained a priest. After the martyrdom of Saint Paul, the governor of Rome arrested him and exiled him to one of the islands, where he stayed teaching and baptizing the island's people. When the governor came to that island and found him guiding people to faith in the Lord Christ, he severely beat him and broke his legs. He then departed in peace. May his prayer be with us. Amen.

On this day in the year 911 AD, the great father Saint Gabriel, the fifty-seventh Pope of Alexandria, departed. This saint became a monk from his youth and performed many devotions. He loved solitude and seclusion and often wept in prayer, asking God to save him from the devil's snares.

When Pope Michael the Fifty-Sixth departed, this father was chosen to be patriarch in his place and was ordained in the year 900 AD against his will. He took care of the church's affairs, and the duties of the patriarchate did not prevent him from his worship and asceticism, as he spent most days in the wilderness. If something required him to go to Egypt or Alexandria, he would go and then return to fasting, vigil, prayer, and humility. He would wake up at night, take an iron shovel, wear a worn-out garment, and pass by the latrines in the monasteries to wash and clean them. He continued in this state for several years until God looked upon his humility and contrite heart, relieved him of his sufferings, and granted him the grace to overcome sin and self. This father lived as a monk, struggler, and preacher for eleven years and then departed in peace. May his prayer be with us. Amen.

The Nawa

In the winter months, the parts overlooking the Mediterranean Sea are exposed to the phenomenon of cyclonic atmospheric depressions that characterize the climatic conditions in the Mediterranean region and are known in Alexandria as the Nawa.

The Nawa:

It is a meteorological disturbance that produces a circular or oval air vortex with low pressure in the center surrounded by a high-pressure area. Winds spiral inward toward the low-pressure center in a counterclockwise direction.